Update Sept 2012. David from HWD has come back to us on the website regarding the proposed development on Racecourse Road. David and HWD offered to meet RAiD which is great. David has also corrected the size and scale of the development which we had reported on the site and I quote form his post to the blog.

“HWD have submitted a planning application is for a 14 storey building not 16 as you state. It shall comprise 90 apartments, 14 small offices – not 30 and one cafe – not 3 large retail outlets as you have described.”

David Thank you for the update we will be in touch.

Word is a huge development is proposed for some where between 33-39 Racecourse Road. The area has a proposed zone with a 9 meter limit. The developers are talking up to 30 meters and its north facing. That means it has a big shadow. So if you know anyone at the Alfred Street end of 3051 let them know they should keep their eyes peeled. This is one is bigger than the, oh so attractive black glass number opposite 7-11 . The question for residents is: If we accept higher densities for the area as inevitable, how do we stop Flemington Road, Racecource Road the South end of Arden etc from becoming glass canyons? Developers, the MCC & successive State Governments made such a balls up of St Kilda Road by allowing anything, we dont want to be running a last gasp campaign to save the street scape and make it livable. What do we think, should each development offer planning gain in the form of social housing, a contribution to schools, aged care, the environment public open space etc? This is the balance there is profit in going up which is fine but the developers need to help pay for the services, everyone gets old, catches a tram, needs local shops, goes to the park has a connection to a school, gets sick or has a mental challenge at some point.

Here is the actual press release from the Govt about the Fishermans bend, imagine not consulting the elected council who have been running a strategy plan and consultation process for over 12 months, sounds just like the Minister and the Arden Macaullay plan and the City of Melbourne all over.

City Councilors are our directly elected representatives, the City Council Officers in the inner-city councils know the issues intimately they have expertise and knowledge, most are strategic and seem to be pro growth and consolidation. The Govt should communicate with them and work WITH them not ambush them in this manner.

Planning for the future use of land should be like Government "for the people by the people"

In other big news Docklands planning gets handed back to the City of Melbourne. Just as the glamour of announcing big developments and fancy towers has gone out of it and the hard, costly work of planning and implementing social infra-structure like schools, libraries, child care, aged care, ESL courses etc has begun in earnest it gets hand balled out of the Ministers office to the rate payers in Melbourne.

Traffic Counters have been installed in many North Melbourne streets by the MCC as their review the traffic patterns in 3051. This is being done in advance of any Ministerial decision on the proposed Woolworths mega development on Canning Street. RAiD is actively engaged with some great Council staff members in looking at the traffic flows in the area. We have been asked by residents and RAiD members should we hope for big numbers or little numbers? After much discussion we don’t know, so if there is an expert out there who would like to come and talk to us email us on the gmail address we would love to meet you.

Traffic Counters installed in North Melbourne as residents are concerned about Woolworths traffic management

Last night I went to the parks meeting at the supper room at the Melbourne Town Hall & met lots of residents from all over Melbourne & all the movers & shakers. Great turn out from North Melbourne & Kensington residents.

Well done everyone who had time to go.

In summary it was fab, the plans are fantastic. The big if is (& it is a giant IF) is can the plans be delivered on as the State Government is required to hand over land in the development corridors for parks rather than sell it all to developers. Think about in a era of budget squeezes,” the money or public open space?”.

The issues that arose were ones of integration, there was no evidence of links to things like sports and rec planning as a big growth in population puts pressure on our already struggling facilites at Arden St, the pool , JJ Holland and the tennis courts. In a simular vien we were all concerned about making better use of the existing space and the liner reserves we have in many streets for opportunistic recreation like a spring time sit in the sun for apartment dwellers & older less mobile residents.

Vaughan Tce & Dryburgh St Park in front of the proposed Woolworths development is ear marked for an upgrade.

On the bright side great work by the Melbourne City Council, really well hosted with exciting prospects for the future.